It was a fake kick, and a royally good one.  The ball went to Stearns instead.  Out around the right end dashed the little left, with Gridley support thumping over the ground to back him up.  But Stearns was the best Gridley runner on the field today.  Moreover, he had not been worked as hard as had Evans.

A nimble dodge, and Stearns was past the first Cobber interference.

A howl of delight went up from the home fans.

Then Cobber’s secondary defense made a dash for Stearns.  The latter found himself balked, so headed straight for them.  Through the line he made a dash.  It was too much for little Stearns.  Down he went, and a groan of disappointment went up from the Gridley seats.

Yet only to one knee went the swift little end.  He was up and off again like a shot.  One Cobber man wheeled and would have grabbed the little right end, but there was where Frank Thompson played for all there was in him.  He pitched forward, falling headlong, and Smith, of Cobber, fell over him.

It was a sprint, now!  For an instant the field close to Stearns was clear of opposition.

Wild cheering broke loose.  Dick Prescott fairly danced for joy.

Ah!  Here came some of the belated Cobber men, supporting their fullback.

There was a heavy crash.  Stearns, caught in the midst of the mixup, went down, but he covered the pigskin!

Then the linesman hurried up.  The news was so good that it flew from mouth to mouth along the east side boards: 

“Forty-two yards!”

Cobber’s captain gasped.  It had been close playing all afternoon.  He had looked for nothing like this.  Clearly, Gridley’s fake kick tactics were all of the real thing.

For the first time Halsey and his best men felt much of their confidence ooze.

Down almost over the line, Gridley soon had the ball, while the home fans were again standing up and cheering.  Then a penalty set the ball back.  But Gridley soon had the ball again.

In two plays the doughty High School boys carried the pigskin eight yards.  Only nine to go!

As Badger’s signals rang out for the third pass, Badger’s men were seen to spread.  Another fake kick?

Then the ball went backward.  Winters, of course, took it.  Like magic, while watchful Cobber stood opened up, the Gridley line closed in again.  Artful Dodger Winters still had the ball.  Thompson, Edgeworth, Badger and Beck butted in solidly behind the lithe quarter-back.  The rest of Gridley followed.

Cheek of cheek!  The out-weighed High School boys were giving Cobber a dose of Cobber medicine.  It was a mass-play—–­a battering-ram assault.

And Gridley got it over!  An inch past the line Winters tripped and went down, covering the ball.

Touchdown!

Five to five a tie score!

“Kick the goal!” came the hoarse appeal from the east side seats.